The origins of Stonyhurst Park Golf Club are somewhat obscure. However, it is known that in 1890, George Walker, then studying philosophy at Stonyhurst College, decided he wanted to play golf and went out with a handful of markers for tees and greens and started hitting balls. Leaving College he prospered, became President of the USA Golf Association, and presented the "Walker Cup" for Competition between amateurs from Great Britain and the USA. In 1894 there are references in the Stonyhurst Magazine ... "We have the makings of a magnificent links at Stonyhurst ..." also in the same year "A nine hole course of some 2,500 yards was laid out in the old Deer Park". In the November magazine "Golf is now one of our regular games ... and the new course is far superior". From 1895 a regular tournament was held with a cup presented in 1897; local livestock grazed the course, as indeed they did until 1994! A map of the "Philosopher's Course" was produced in 1906 from 1923 Golf was regularly advertised as extra-curricular attraction in the College prospectus.